INTERPOL is the world’s largest international police organization, with 190 member countries. Our role is to enable police around the world to work together to make the world a safer place. Our high-tech infrastructure of technical and operational support helps meet the growing challenges of fighting crime in the 21st century.

This is where you will find the latest news and multimedia from INTERPOL. Read our news stories and speeches; see the Organization in action through videos and photo galleries; and download our fact sheets, brochures and annual reports.

Our global police communications channels and internationally recognized alert systems allow police around the world to share data instantly and securely. A 24-hour contact point and specialized teams provide targeted support to serious crime or disaster incidents.

Europe

Latvia

Latvia

Law enforcement in Latvia

Latvia Police in training

Law enforcement services in Latvia are the responsibility of the Ministry of the Interior, which is in charge of the State Police, the Security Police and the State Border Guard branches. The Municipal police is part of local government.

The Latvian State Police protects Latvia and its citizens from criminal threats posed to life, health, rights, freedom, property and interests. The Latvian State Police has five regional police districts.

Currently, the State Police is staffed by almost 7,000 certified officers and more than 600 civilians.

State Police - International Cooperation Bureau

Created in 2009 and staffed by almost 60 police officers, the International Cooperation Bureau is the platform through which Latvia’s State Police reaches out to the international police community for investigations and criminal matters.

It consists of five units:

INTERPOL National Central Bureau (NCB);

Legal Affairs;

Europol;

"SIRENE" Latvia National Unit;

Operational Coordination and Informative Provision Unit.

INTERPOL Riga

The INTERPOL National Central Bureau for Latvia is staffed by nine officers who are in charge of facilitating international police co-operation between Latvian law enforcement agencies and all INTERPOL member countries.

One of the NCBs main tasks is to work with domestic and international police in the swift location of fugitives wanted by INTERPOL, and to have them arrested if located in Latvia.

RIGA, Latvia – INTERPOL Secretary General Jürgen Stock met with staff at the National Central Bureau (NCB) in Riga during his first official mission to Latvia.Head of NCB Riga Indra Pulka and Edgars Strautmanis, Head of the International Cooperation Department met with the INTERPOL Chief who was updated on recent activities. The visit followed Mr Stock’s...

RIGA, Latvia – Attending today’s meeting of EU Justice and Home Affairs Ministers in Latvia, INTERPOL Secretary General Jürgen Stock said a global effort is required to address the internal security needs of the European Union (EU) against the threat of foreign fighters.The Head of the world police body said INTERPOL stands ready to help EU member states...

LYON, France – The suspected mastermind behind a global car smuggling ring, estimated to have trafficked luxury and sports vehicles worth around EUR 6 million since 2009, has been arrested following an INTERPOL-coordinated operation.The Russian national was taken into custody in Venice, Italy following INTERPOL’s Operation Eastbound which coordinated the...

WARSAW, Poland – Representatives of 10 Eastern European countries gathered last week to learn how to conduct effective investigations into instances of suspected criminal acts involving radiological and nuclear (RN) weapons, materials and technology. Experienced investigators from law enforcement, customs and other security forces teamed up with their cou...